Just a Thought

Crossing Thresholds

“What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly” ~ Leo Tzu

            As the new week dawns and we draw closer to the Memorial Holiday weekend, I wanted to write today about all the young men and women who are crossing thresholds in their lives as they walk out into the midst of new adventures and challenges.  Students are graduating from colleges…graduating from high schools…and moving from one grade level to the next.  Students are not the only one who might find themselves in a phase of flux, the end of the school year is also the time of year when families are moving to new homes, to new communities or to new states to tackle new jobs or enjoy the start of retirement.  Old friends are left behind and the prospect of making new friends looms ahead…the point is, as Spring brings renewal to the land around us so too does the end of the school year bring changes to many people as one door closes and another opens.

            Change (along with death and taxes) is one of the many constants in life.  Multitudes of people don’t like change because change can not only be a scary time filled with uncertainty but it can also be accompanied with loneliness and self-doubt.  Yet, despite the challenges that change can bring, change also forces us outside of our comfort zone and forces a period of growth and development upon us.  Without growth and development, stagnation occurs and with stagnation comes decay and the loss of purpose.  I fear loss of purpose more than I fear change so when given the chance, I’ll embrace change and all its uncertainty.  Today, ironically, is the anniversary of the “Great Emigration” as in 1843 over a thousand covered wagons formed the greatest wagon train ever to brave the unknown as they traveled to the untamed Oregon Territory, a 2,000 mile journey with only a hope to keep them going.  Talk about stepping out on faith! 

            New beginnings are just that, a new beginning, a fresh start, a clean slate to start over again.  Transitions to a new job, new school or new home are representations of the close of one chapter and the start of another one where the pages are clear and unwritten.  The challenge of the unknown is having the courage to forge a new space and a new comfort zone, to find a new relevance and to make a difference in your world.  This life we have is not a static adventure but a ballet that allows up to move in time and tempo to the needs of those around us.  When life gives an improvised tempo or dynamic rhythm of an unfamiliar melody, the steps may shift but the dance goes on.  Change happens…it will never stop.  Ask yourself, what threshold(s) have you crossed in your life…and when will you walk (or run) to cross the next?  I encourage you to embrace the changes that you face because that is usually the best way to adapt to them.  We will always reflect on the various roads we have traveled in life, it’s human nature to do so but it is impossible to go back to that moment in time to relive them.  I am the sum of my experiences just as you are the sum of yours, that is what makes us unique to each other.  Our experiences are built upon the challenges we have faced and overcome through the guise of change so I say, embrace them and grow! 

            Thanks for reading and I hope that if you’re facing change like so many others this time of year, take heart and know that you are not alone.  If the anxiety of change is more than you can handle then I suggest the help of a mental health professional to help guide you through your concerns and fears but take heart, you can make it.  I hope everyone has a wonderful week and I’ll be back Friday with another nugget of information, until then, take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Just a Thought

Who Cares for the Primary Care Giver?

            Question: When the primary care giver is in need of care and convalescence, who steps up to provide the care needed for them?  Unfortunately, for many families, the answer is I don’t know.  Most families have that one person, who through design or by default, takes on the role of the primary care giver to all others in the family.  Others may chip in and contribute, but that primary care giver seems to be there for all the doctor appointments and has a firm grasp on all the subtle needs and advocates for those needs above and beyond all else.  But what happens when the one person everyone depends on suddenly needs someone to advocate for them? 

            As the Marketing Director for a home health agency you might think that I would encourage everyone to beat down my doors and ask for Best Home Care Services to take on that role of a care giver (and we would be happy to do it) but first I would ask for both families and patients to create a plan of action first.  Sometimes, people know that they are going to have a procedure well in advance and hopefully they use that time wisely to plan for the care needed after the procedure.  Sometimes, emergencies happen and those around the patient in crisis are taken by complete surprise and are left scrambling to provide the care needed for proper recovery.  Without a question, my sister is the primary care giver for my father.  She is his champion when it comes to concerns and advocacy as she accompanies him to his various physician appointments every year…she goes so she knows the whole story of his health.  She makes it a priority and she does a really good job of sharing information with other members of the family as to the state of our father’s health.  What would the plan be if something where to happen to my sister, who would take care of her and my father?  This is where planning comes in to play.

            Planning for the care of an individual requires some forethought, depending on the circumstances, if it is a scheduled medical procedure or a medical emergency.  Planning for home care can be as simple as family members sorting out who will be available to take care of things like driving to or from appointments, cooking meals if needed, housekeeping, managing medications, communicating with other family members, etc.  There are plenty of things that need to be done in a primary care takers role.  If there are no family or friends available to provide post-procedure care at home, then most hospitals will work with agencies (much like Best Home Care Services) to arrange services to help with care at home.  If there is a question as to the reliability of the help you might need, having an advanced directive in place before might help alleviate concerns that might crop up in either an emergency or a planned hospital stay.  Whatever pathway you choose to take when it comes to care at home, planning it out beforehand will reduce stress which helps speed up the recovery.  As always, thanks for reading and again, I encourage everyone to consider planning for post medical treatment by discussing it with family members or by developing an advanced medical directive so that your needs are met when you need it most.  I hope everyone has a great weekend, take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Just a Thought

Attack of the Zombie Healthcare Plan

            Just when you thought it was safe to understand your healthcare options…

Like in the cinema-graphic thriller, Night of the Living Dead, the zombie like GOP healthcare plan keeps coming at you…chasing you till your last breath has been exhausted.  Of course, the night of the living dead is supposed to be an apocalyptic thriller to keep us all on the edge of our seats even though we all rationally know that the movie is just one of many Hollywood’s efforts to make us forget about real life for a while.  But this new apocalyptic thriller which emanates from the hallowed halls of our nation’s capital is no passing whim to entertain us for a short while.  This shakeup of the fledgling national healthcare system is a very close copy of the Republicans failed attempt to reboot the American healthcare system earlier this year.  Like most horror films, this sudden return of the overthrow of the national healthcare system will likely have a scary effect upon many…and for years to come.

The House of Representatives seemed to have run this new version of the American Health Care Act through fairly quickly getting just enough votes to pass the measure 217 votes to pass and 213 votes against.  The cliff note version, according to the New York Times, is that the people who stand to gain the most are high income individuals who earnings are at least $200,000 or couples whose income is that of $250,000 as they will receive a tax breaks.  Upper middle class folks who do not have a pre-existing condition will also benefit as more individuals will be able to reach assistance thresholds than under the Affordable Care Act.  The GOP plan also gets rid of the mandated coverage for individuals so unlike ACA where an individual had to maintain coverage or else face penalties when filing their taxes, now, that threat of punishment is gone.  As a side note, people who fail to maintain their insurance, let’s say they have a 60 day laps where there is no coverage, insurers can now charge up to 30% premium fee…Ouch!  The other winner in this new version of the health care plan is that larger companies are no longer required to provide insurance to their workforce.

The people who suffer the most from this new bill?  The low income and the elderly.  The Medicaid system that provides a huge portion of the healthcare coverage by most states will have to face significant cuts which will ultimately reduce the help that many people need.  People can expect loss of funding for services like mental health services and for drug addiction services.  It is also expected that smaller hospitals will feel the crunch as more and more people who lose their insurance because of the new plan will overload the emergency department with issues that could have easily been managed with their local doctor.

Again, I’m not saying that the Affordable Care Act was perfect, but the people who are going to bear the brunt of this change in the system will be the poor and the elderly.  A child born into poverty has no control over their circumstances yet what little chance they had at receiving minimal healthcare was voted out the window the other day by people who have no idea what poverty is.  I don’t know what the right answer is but I believe that as a nation we need to show a little compassion towards our children and the elderly.  Many of these measures wouldn’t take place for years but the Congressional Budget Office still expects that 24 million people will lose their health insurance when they do.  Even though the measure scraped by the House, it still faces opposition in the Senate.  We’ll see what come of it over the next few weeks.

Have a good weekend everyone, thanks as always for reading.  Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Health Highlight

Acute Pancreatitis

“The pain feels like it is going to bore a ragged hole right through your body from the front right out the middle of your spine.” ~The Pain Attributed to Acute Pancreatitis

            A good friend of mine recently had a scary experience recently as her partner needed to go to the emergency department of the local hospital with incredible pain and swelling of his abdomen.  The doctors were able to determine that the gentleman was suffering from a bout of Acute Pancreatitis which can cause severe pain and discomfort.  The pancreas, unlike the appendix, cannot just be removed because it is inflamed and causing pain.  The appendix?  Cut it out and throw it away, but the pancreas, well, it is one of those critical little bits that helps the body digest and use the food you eat.  This gland has two primary jobs, the first is to release enzymes that help the body break down the foods consumed and then it also regulates and releases the body’s hormones of insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream.  These hormones help the body control sugar levels and how it uses food for energy.  The pancreas is located behind the stomach and next to the small intestines and has a bit of a funny shape but when inflamed it can be a source of intense discomfort.

            What is acute pancreatitis?  “Acute pancreatitis is a sudden inflammation that lasts for a short time. It may range from mild discomfort to a severe, life-threatening illness. Most people with acute pancreatitis recover completely after getting the right treatment. In severe cases, acute pancreatitis can result in bleeding into the gland, serious tissue damage, infection, and cyst formation. Severe pancreatitis can also harm other vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys,” (WebMD).  The symptoms of this sudden inflammation of the pancreas are pain in the upper abdominal area that radiates towards the back (read the opening quote again) and it is usually aggravated by eating foods high in fat.  People who suffer from pancreatitis also feel a swollen and tender abdomen, experience nausea and vomiting, have a fever and experience an increased heart rate.  In most cases, “…acute pancreatitis is caused by gallstones or heavy alcohol use. Other causes include medications, infections, trauma, metabolic disorders, and surgery. In up to 15% of people with acute pancreatitis, the cause is unknown,” (WebMD).  There are two main risk factors that contribute to the possibility of an acute pancreatitis attack, the gallbladder and alcohol consumption.  If you follow my blog at all, you will have read a few weeks back that millions of Americans suffer from gallbladder issues and that those individuals are at risk for some form of pancreatitis.  Oh, the joy!

            If you are suffering pain in your upper abdominal area and you think it might be your pancreas, don’t mess around and try to tough it out, get to the hospital and have them take care of you.  If left untreated the condition could worsen, damaging other organs and it could lead to death…so don’t muck around with it.  The treatment of an acute pancreatitis attack is IV fluids, pain medication and no food till the inflammation subsides.  In some cases, the patient is admitted to the ICU (intensive care unit) for close observation as other complications can occur rapidly.  Healing does occur, people do get better and live a normal life, but sometimes life changes need to happen in order to avoid a repeat trip to the hospital.

            I hope everyone has a great week moving forward and if you or anyone you know has had abdominal pain after eating high fat foods or drinking, you might want to go get checked out.  As always, thanks for reading…keep an eye out for events brewing off the Korean peninsula as things continue to heat up there.  I continue to hope for common sense to break out and peace to prevail but it’s looking shaky right now.  Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Emergency Supply List

Emergency Survival Kit

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”  Benjamin Franklin

“It wasn’t raining when Noah built his ark.”  Howard Ruff

I thought today was worth both quotes as they prove a harsh point, most of us are not ready to face a natural or man-made disaster.  The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina showed the nation just how unprepared we, as a society, are for the unthinkable, the total loss of our homes and communities by some disaster.  The following excerpt is from the website Best Customer Reviews and I found the information well rounded and fairly encompassing…I have posted it in its entirety.  Even if you don’t read it all today (it’s a lengthy post today) I highly recommend that you save it and print it out to view and contemplate it at a later time and please take time to share this with anyone you might care about be they friend or family.

“An emergency survival kit should have everything your family needs to survive for 3 days during an evacuation.  It should supply all basic human needs (food, shelter, and clothing), plus everything needed to supplement these basics.  In the aftermath of a disaster, supply of power, water, and gas may not be available for 2 weeks.  The stores may not be open to buy fresh supplies.  Supplies at home should be able to last at least a couple of weeks.

Here’s what you need to prepare an emergency survival kit:

Water.  Buy 1 gallon of bottled drinking water for each family member.  Make sure to keep them sealed and unopened until you need them.  For baths and toilet flushing, store tap water in clean, disinfected plastic containers.  Cover tightly.  Store these in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight.

Food:  Store non-perishable, ready-to-eat food.  Best to keep are canned meat, vegetables, fruits and soup that can be consumed cold right out of the can.  Do not store foods that need hot water before consuming like dehydrated noodles and oatmeal.  Avoid keeping salty food like pretzels.  These make you thirsty and will only compromise your water supply.  Other suggestions are boxed cereal, soda crackers, dehydrated fruit, and peanut butter.

Utensils:  With all the canned food you have in storage, make sure you have a manual can opener.  Disposable sporks (combination of spoon and fork) and plates should be in good supply.  Include a small pot, charcoal, and a lighter or matches for heating food.

Flashlight and portable radio:  Lights are important especially when the power goes out.  You will also need a radio to keep updated with the weather news.  Keep battery-operated ones and make sure they are in working condition.  There are available combination equipment of a portable radio with light, and some even with a port for charging cellphones.  Store them without their batteries in, but make sure the batteries are in the same storage area.  Keep another flashlight with batteries within easy access in the house.

Extra batteries:  Since power supply may be cut off during a disaster without assurance when it can be returned, make sure to store a lot of batteries in the correct size.

Two-way radios.  Always keep them charged to allow communication, news and updates.

Sleeping bags:  Tents may be too expensive to buy and too heavy to lug around during an emergency evacuation.  A sleeping bag for each member of the family is enough to ensure a warm place to lie down at night when forced to abandon your house.  Include blankets and small pillows.

Extra clothes:  Keep an extra change of clothes stored in a water-proof bag.  Do not forget underwear and socks.  If you live in cold climate, warm pants, jackets and boots should be included.

Towels.  Have towels of all kinds and sizes:  bath towels, face towels, hand towels and dish towels.  If you are hit by storm, hurricane, flood, snow or hail, you will need towels to dry.

First-aid and medication:  The kit should be a water-proof easy-to-carry case with bandages and antibiotic ointments for treating minor wounds.  Put in supplies of OTC drugs for treating fever, headache, diarrhea, spasms, and allergies.  If anyone in the family takes regular prescription drugs, these should always be in ample supply in case the drugstore is not available.  For other emergencies, put in supplies of N95 masks, syringes and catheters.

Sanitary and hygiene items:  To ease survival during a disaster, stock up on toilet paper and paper napkins, toothbrushes and toothpaste, feminine napkins and diapers, and soap and shampoo.  Include chlorine bleach for use as disinfectant.  If anyone needs contact lens solution or denture cream, put these in too.

Tools:  Keep some important handy multi-purpose tools.  At the minimum, choose one that has scissors, screwdriver, knife, and pliers.  There are also multi-purpose hardware tools that include hammer, wrench, axe, and saw.  Include a whistle, duct tape, working gloves and a map of your area among these.

Cellphones, chargers and family contact information:  Make sure your cellphones are always charged and call 911 if necessary.

Important documents:  In the case of abandoning your house during an emergency, it would be good to have your important documents with you when you leave.  Make sure these are in zip-lock bags for protection and stored in a bag ready to be carried any time.  Important documents to consider: deed or lease of your house, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies, proof of address, medical information and prescriptions.

Extra cash:  Your credit cards might not be of any use in a disaster-stricken area.  Have ready cash in case there is a chance to buy supplies.

Extra house and car keys:  In case you need to abandon your house temporarily during a disaster, lock everything and keep extra keys amongst the family.  It will not be practical to rely on one set when it can easily be lost while hiking during evacuation.  Do the same for your car keys.

Special supplies for baby, elderly, or disabled member:  If you have a baby or toddler, make sure you have your baby supplies like bottles, milk formula and baby food.  For elderly or disabled members, do not forget to pack their walking cane, hearing aid, dentures, food or medication.

Entertainment items: If you have young children, bring something for their entertainment that is small enough to squeeze in your bag.  These may be anything like:  a small box of crayons and coloring or activity book, a small portable version of a board game like Snakes and Ladders, or a small toy like a car or doll.

Pet supplies:  Pets are part of the family too.  If your pet is lucky enough to be able to evacuate with you, bring your pet’s supplies.  Pack a bag with food bowl, pet food, leash or carrier and identification.

An emergency survival kit should always be a water-proof container with a handle or handles that make it easy to carry around.  The list looks long and may seem too many to bring.  Packing them should be done with care to make sure they fit in bags and containers the family can carry while walking.”

            Be it a Bug-Out-Bag (BOB) or emergency supplies for the home, there are several websites (including Amazon) that sell pre-packed survival kits.  I would recommend that you give them a look over.  The prices range from modest to the unbelievable but I’ll leave it to you to determine your family’s needs.  Again, please share this post with your loved ones so that they too may be prepared for an emergency.  I hope everyone has a good weekend and take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Just a Thought

Are You Ready?

“The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking and we thus drift towards unparalleled catastrophe.”  ~Albert Einstein

            Over the past few months, the United States, in their efforts to project sea power and protect interests in the far East have become entangled in a quagmire of saber rattling with North Korea and to a lesser extent, China.  North Korea is one of the most impoverished countries in the world with such harsh censorship and poverty one cannot imagine humanity could possibly exist in those conditions.  The leadership of North Korea has been desperately trying for years to build intercontinental ballistic weapons of mass destruction that would rain nuclear terror down upon the United States and her allies and in recent months, it looks like they are closer than ever to bringing that achievement about.  If you think I am being an alarmist, do the research yourself.  The Doomsday Clock, a report published by Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist, (a report that monitors how close the world is to midnight or global nuclear annihilation) has moved the clock 30 seconds closer to midnight as of January 26th of this year so now the world stands only 2 ½ minutes form nuclear war.  Given the events of the past few months between the United States and North Korea, I would guess that the clock has moved even closer to midnight.  We are the closest to nuclear catastrophe since the early 1980’s.  We must get the word out on how to protect yourself and your families…and if nothing comes from it all then thank the good Lord with all your might, but if the leaders of the world feel that nuclear genocide is the only answer then it is up to you to be prepared.

            There are several articles, websites and survivalist guides on how to survive in the event of a dirty bomb being used by terrorist or the nuclear exchange between nations.  I want to be clear on this, you can survive if you can manage to keep calm and if you have a plan in place.  A survival plan is not just for some perceived nut case who lives in the mountains and raves about the government but for all of us.  Every city and state government in the United States has an emergency plan in place in case of a natural or man-made disaster as it would be grossly irresponsible not to have one in place.  Yes, in the event of a nuclear exchange, certain targets and cities would be wiped out in seconds but depending on location and time, there are steps you can take to survive so it is important, now more than ever, to plan and prepare.  My point being that we all need to take steps to be prepared no matter what disaster might befall us.  There is information out there that can help us all be better prepared for any type disaster and many of the solutions are common sense and low cost.  The most important thing to remember in a time of crisis is to be calm and not to panic.  Panic leads to disorder and poor decision making and those poor choices made in panic can often lead to less than desired outcomes.  Basic items needed for survival in any disaster is shelter, food, water, a hand cranked powered radio and courage.  The Family Survival Planning website is an excellent resource to help people begin the process of planning for the unthinkable.  Their link on surviving a nuclear exchange is http://www.family-survival-planning.com/nuclear-attack.html and is very important reading. 

            When I saw the fall of the Berlin wall back in the early 1990’s, there was a sense of great relief as the oppressive weight of the fear of nuclear war seemed to have suddenly dissipated.  But here we are again as nationalistic pride sweeps over nations with nuclear weapons and threatens the stability of a peaceful world one more time.  We, as a nation are so distracted by the overwhelming avalanche of the daily stuff of our lives, we are missing the quiet stories developing in and around the Korean peninsula and the dangers it holds for the entire planet.  I don’t believe I’m being an alarmist, I am just shocked as to how fast this country is running towards a war in Asia, again…and no one seems to care.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Happy Easter

Chocolate Bunnies

            It’s Good Friday today which means that Easter is just a couple of days away.  For me, Easter is probably my favorite time of the year as it represents a time of hope and a time of renewal.  For my young children, Easter is a time to color eggs, hide them and find them, a time for the Easter Bunny to make his annual trip and leave a basket full of treats that will last until Halloween next fall.  The favorite treat that we all look forward to every year in our baskets is the lovely chocolate bunny that seems to never last long enough!  Chocolate bunnies come in all shapes, sizes, style and flavors.  There are white chocolate bunnies, dark chocolate bunnies and milk chocolate bunnies that come in a hollow form or as a solid bunny that requires a slow and longsuffering nibble at a time.  All in all, chocolate seems to be the main attraction as far as sweets go during the Easter holiday and that is just fine as there are many different healthy benefits to the consumption of chocolate.

            The history of the chocolate Easter bunny goes back to the middle ages.  The rabbit became a symbol of Easter as, where according to a German legend, the Easter Bunny would come out of his winter hiding and lay brightly colored eggs for all the good little children to find.  Even though the chocolate confectionary has been around for hundreds of years, the explosion of the popularity of the chocolate Easter bunny came about during the post-WW II economic boom here in the United States as people had the resources to buy the iconic treat.  The love of chocolate during the Easter season has become such that the sales of chocolate during this spring holiday have surpassed the sales of Valentine’s Day and even Halloween.  Now, I would never recommend that anyone sit down and consume several pounds of chocolate in a sitting as it could make a person very ill, but a little chocolate can provide several health benefits that I feel we could all enjoy.

            Not all chocolates are created equal and therefore not all chocolates can provide the maximum health benefits that one might hope for.  The healthy part of chocolate is found in the cacao, the pure coco if you will, which is by itself extremely bitter which is why sugar, fats and milk are added to create the different types of chocolate that we buy today.  There are three basic types of chocolate, white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate.  The healthiest form of chocolate is from the dark chocolate category and the worst form of chocolate for your health is white chocolate.  The higher the cacao levels in the dark chocolate, the more beneficial the chocolate is for you.  The antioxidants and various nutrients found in the high percentage cacao chocolate (at least 70% cacao) have been found to do more than mend a broken heart.  This sweet superfood can:

·         Lower blood pressure

·         Decrease cardiac disease

·         Increase happiness

·         Lowers stress

·         Help reduce insulin resistance

·         Helps with weight loss

·         Helps increase blood flow to the brain

·         Reduces likelihood of sunburn

·         Helps to eliminate diarrhea

            All these wonderful and healthy benefits of the very dark chocolate is also dependent on how much you consume.  Most of these benefits can be obtained by eating as little as a few squares of the delicious treats every day.  I recommend that if there is an outcome you would like to see such as lowering your blood pressure by eating dark chocolate then I would recommend that you do a little more reading on the various studies that have tested for that outcome.  Remember, all things in moderation.  So, hopefully the Easter Bunny will bring you a dark chocolate bunny to nibble on this year and help you start off on a renewal of better health.  I hope everyone has a lovely Easter weekend.  Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Health Highlight

Alcohol Awareness Month

Part Two

“My makeup wasn’t smeared, I wasn’t disheveled, I behaved politely, and I never finished off a bottle…so how could I be an alcoholic?” ~Former First Lady Betty Ford

          Everyone has his or her own thoughts and ideas of what an alcoholic looks like in their mind’s eye.  As a kid, I personally had the image of the town wino in dirty clothes wondering through the town with a bottle of booze hidden in a brown paper sack clutched tightly in their hand as they staggered down the ally.  Alcoholics were supposed to stick out like a sore thumb so all the kids in the community could be dutifully warned about the evils of consuming spirits to excess.  Those are the images of my childhood, when I was young and naïve.  Today, I know that the face of alcoholism carries a much different image for those people who suffer from this disease.  What does the face of alcoholism look like?  It looks like the face of a school teacher, a police officer, a veteran, a business owner, a college student, a doctor, an athlete or the person next door…it even looks like the First Lady of the United States.  First Lady Betty Ford became a beacon of hope when in the late 70’s, after being confronted by her family, began a pathway to sobriety that ultimately ended with the foundation of the Betty Ford Clinic (now the Betty Ford Center) to help people who struggle with substance addiction.  Betty Ford was a well-respected woman who used her influence as First Lady to promote and advocate for equal rights for women and raising awareness of breast cancer.  Her public admission of alcoholism and her treatment was a sharp awakening that alcoholism can be prevalent at every level of society and that there was life beyond the addiction.  She was a strong woman made of tough stuff to find her way past the ridicule she endured in order to stand tall to be a shining example of what could be for those who hid in the shadows of the doubt of addiction.

          As part of Alcohol Awareness month, today I would like to discuss more on alcoholism, the symptoms and the risk factors of alcoholism.  Alcoholism is an addiction and is as much a mental health issue as it is a physical issue.  Healing from any addiction requires that the person who is suffering from the addiction get help for both mental and physical issues.  I’m not implying that alcoholics are mentally deficient, I’m saying that there are skewed belief systems at work that help lead to an addiction and then the addiction is ties to the physical being through developing chemical dependencies.  One rarely wakes up one morning and says, “I quit” and stays sober…has it happened?  Yes, but it is a rare bird who can go cold turkey and find a balanced life.  But what is the catalyst for alcoholism?  Just as it is the rare moment that a person quits cold turkey, it is equally rare that a person just wakes up one day and decides that they want to become an alcoholic.  The five most common risk factors in becoming an alcoholic are:

·         Excessive stress

·         Drinking from an early age

·         Mixing alcohol and medication

·         Family history

·         Mental health issues like depression

Common symptoms of alcoholism are:

·         drinking alone

·         drinking more to feel the effects of alcohol (having a high tolerance)

·         becoming violent or angry when asked about their drinking habits

·         not eating or eating poorly

·         neglecting personal hygiene

·         missing work or school because of drinking

·         being unable to control alcohol intake

·         making excuses to drink

·         continuing to drink even when legal, social, or economic problems develop

·         giving up important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of alcohol use

          The stigma and the shame felt by those who struggle with alcohol seem unique to the person suffering from alcoholism and insurmountable.  The reality is that those feelings are common and shared by a great many who have struggled and who are now sober.  There are many organizations available to those who need help and who desire help.  It takes a courage for a family member or a friend to confront the person they love who is struggling with alcohol addiction, especially if that person feels like there is not a problem.  Part of the addiction of alcoholism is that the booze comes before the people an addict loves or cares about and that why it is so painful for others to witness.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration is a confidential resource to reach out to… “SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information,” (https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline)

          I hope that everyone take time this month to ponder their use of alcohol and critically reflect if you or someone you care about needs help.  It can be hard to reach out but it is an even more difficult road to travel if alcohol is the driving force in your life.  Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Health Highlight

Alcohol Awareness Month

Part One

“I’ve never seen anyone drink themselves smart, successful or happy.  Most end up broke, bitter and alone.” ~Unknown

            April is National Alcohol Awareness Month which was started in 1987 by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (NCADD).  The purpose of this awareness campaign is to eliminate the stigma associated with alcoholism and to share knowledge and hope of the ability to recover from alcohol abuse with local communities.  Alcohol abuse and alcoholism is a problem that millions of Americans struggle with each and every day. The cost of excessive alcohol use weighs heavily our country as millions upon millions of dollars are wasted or consumed in the form of lost production, lost wages, medical expenses, legal & court cost not to mention damage to property and loss of life.  Chances are, as adults, we all know a friend or family member who drinks to excess and often ends up in a situation that is often uncomfortable or embarrassing.

            Alcohol in the form of beverages has been around for thousands of years and is ingrained as part of our everyday life and culture.  One is hard pressed to watch a program on television without seeing alcohol playing some role within the program in some way either through advertising or as a method of “taking the edge off” a situation.  We see enticing ads and images everywhere so we as a society are desensitized to the idea that drinking alcohol can be harmful and the effects of that harm.  But what is the threshold?  What is harmful and where is the line of safe consumption versus excessive consumption?

            According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) a single drink consists of:

·         12-ounces of beer (5% alcohol content).

·         8-ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol content).

·         5-ounces of wine (12% alcohol content).

·         1.5-ounces of 80-proof (40% alcohol content) distilled spirits or liquor (e.g., gin, rum, vodka, whiskey).

            The most common form of excessive drinking is binge drinking.  Binge drinking is where a person will consume more than 4 alcoholic drinks during a single occasion.  This person may not drink every day, but when they do, they go with gusto and they drink multiple beverages in one 24-hour period.  This type of excessive drinking takes place at celebrations like weddings or wakes and is often an image portrayed as “normal” college life.  But this type of heavy consumption usually leads to poor choices and poor outcomes, even death.  At a local university, the sororities celebrate the end of their recruitment period by going on a binge called “Black-out Thursday” …23 students were rushed to the emergency department of the local hospital for acute alcohol poisoning…sounds like fun, doesn’t it?  One young woman died, and for what?

            Heavy drinking is considered to be where a person consumes more than 8 drinks per week if you’re a woman and 15 drinks per week if you’re a man.  There are both short term and long term effects of consuming alcohol and the CDC has prepared a list as follows:

Short-Term Health Risks

·         Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns.

·         Violence, including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.

·         Alcohol poisoning, a medical emergency that results from high blood alcohol levels.

·         Risky sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex or sex with multiple partners. These behaviors can result in unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases.

·         Miscarriage and stillbirth or fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) among pregnant women.

Long-Term Health Risks

          Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including:

·         High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems.

·         Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon.

·         Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.

·         Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety.

·         Social problems, including lost productivity, family problems, and unemployment.

·         Alcohol dependence, or alcoholism.

           Education is the first step in gaining understanding.  I hope this article gives information that might raise one’s thoughts as to who might be abusing alcohol or who might be in need of help.  If you have concerns for a friend, a loved one or even yourself, there are several resources in local communities who can help.  If you are in crisis, call 911 or go to your local hospital or urgent care center but if you have questions and would like to talk to someone, most hospitals will have information to connect you with local treatment or AA groups.  Next week I will be discussing more about alcohol and signs and symptoms of alcoholism and alcohol abuses.  I hope everyone has a good weekend, take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com

Just a Thought

Companionship

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” ~Anatole France

            It’s been a busy week here at Best Home Care Services covering several interesting health related items and I will be touching upon them over the next couple of weeks but one of interest I would like to talk about briefly here today is the overwhelming benefits of pet ownership and companionship.  There have multiple studies done over the years that have shown a variety of different benefits of owning a pet from physical wellbeing to emotional wellbeing.  Some studies have covered the wellness of individuals while a cat was in the room, while a dog was in the room or while both were in the room and for the most part the studies have shown that it doesn’t really matter what the pet was present, the participant was effected in a positive manner by the mere presence of the animal.

            The physical benefits to the owner of pets include lower blood pressure, a lower resting heart rate and lowered levels of stress.  For children, pets have the ability to help kids who have high anxiety reduce the stresses of life and deal with different life events better.  In my mind that alone is a reason enough to get a family pet.  Kids today face enough stress from within families and from their peers that any help that a parent can give to help alleviate anxiety seems like a good idea.  Pets also help children (as well as adults) develop social skills like empathy, the ability to interact with others and develop higher self-esteem all because they share their lives with a pet.  For people who live alone or in situations where they are shut in for one reason or another, the pet/owner relationship and the interaction between the two help with mental acuity as well as physical agility and ability.  For those who are dog owners, physical activity is increased as the owners usually take their dogs for walks at least a couple of times a day (some people have trained their cats to walk on a leash but I have never had much success in that vain attempt). 

            Pet ownership is a not something that should be a spur of the moment decision as being a pet owner is a commitment and a responsibility.  While taking care of a pet is a great way to teach children about the level of responsibility it takes to care for a new “family” member, it takes an entire family commitment to make it a success.  There are many different considerations to think about before jumping into the pool of pet ownership.  One thing many people don’t consider when they first think about pet ownership is the financial commitment that it takes to be a responsible pet owner.  Even if the pet is a free kitten or puppy from the nice little lady down the street, there are costs that will be involved.  Things like pet food, health concerns (annual vet visits), micro-chips or local licenses, pet toys, and damages from the actions of the pet (chewed shoes, pillows, etc.), all these costs can add up quite quickly.  The pet industry is an 18 billion dollar a year industry and growing.  Other considerations to think about are what type of pet?  Is it friendly with other animals and people?  Is the pet you want considered a dangerous animal in your community (Pit Bull dogs have strong restrictions in some communities like the need for a six foot chain-link fence)?  Where does one get a pet from?  Shelters are usually full of animals who are in desperate need of a home and of course there are pet store but buyer beware, some places offer animals for puppy mills or kitten mills, places where the animals are breed in poor conditions and are sickly.  The other option is fining a reputable breeder to purchase a pet from but this option can be quite expensive.  The best option is to think the process through and give your search due diligence and you will find an animal that will make your heart sing with joy.

            As a brief follow-up on the AHCA, the legislation to replace the Affordable Care Act is dead and I’m sure the GOP will try and come up with a different plan but for now the ACA (Obamacare) is the law of the land.  As always, thanks for reading, I hope everyone great weekend.  Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com